Piper PA-28-181 accident near Yuma, Arizona, September 2, 2024
On September 2, 2024 at about 8:15 am local time, a 2003 Piper PA-28-181, registered N3044U, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Yuma, Arizona (Yuma Marine Corps Air Station/ airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from a fence during taxi operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2024 · about 8:15 am local time
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · Yuma Marine Corps Air Station/ · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 2003 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N3044U · registry record · serial 2843572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, she was taxiing with a student when she took control and made a left turn to position the airplane between a fence and a fuel station. However, she reported that during the left turn, she misjudged the airplane’s clearance and the airplane’s left wing struck the fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The flight instructor reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 853.4 hours in all; 556.1 in this make and model; 147 in the last 90 days; 38.9 in the last 30 days; 740 as pilot in command; 531.2 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 12, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 99 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 60.8 in the last 90 days; 9.8 in the last 30 days; 27.3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,823.7 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 25, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 6,395 hours total
- Operator: Bird Acquisition LLC DBA
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Destination: YNL Yuma AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 12:20 pm from YNL, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 13, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photograph | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.